Autistic kids

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), commonly known as autism, is a broad range of developmental conditions that affect how your child interacts with the world, including behavior, social, and communication skills.

In this blog:

• What is autism?
• Causes of autism in children
• How common is autism?
• Signs of autism
• Autism diagnosis
• Autism spectrum levels
• Autism treatment for children
• Support for families dealing with autism
• FAQs

What is autism?

With autism, developmental differences in the brain cause children to respond differently to their environment. They often experience challenges with social, behavioral, and verbal skills. Characteristics of the condition can vary widely from child to child. Understanding these traits can help families effectively advocate for their children and get the support they need.

What causes autism in children?

The exact cause of autism is not known. It’s believed that a combination of genetic and environmental factors increase the risk of a child developing autism. Some common risk actors include:

• Having a sibling or close relative with autism
• Genetic or chromosomal conditions such as fragile x syndrome or tuberous sclerosis
• Parental age
• Maternal health conditions like diabetes
• Complications at birth
• Prenatal exposure to air pollution, pesticides, or harmful chemicals

How common is autism, and how many kids are autistic?

According to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism affects 1 in 31 8-year-old children, and boys are nearly 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Recent increases in autism diagnoses may be due, in part, to greater awareness, improved screening tools and procedures, and broader definitions of the condition.

Autism signs and symptoms in kids

Signs of Autism can show up as early as 12 months to 18 months of age, but most children are diagnosed after the age of three. Some of the common symptoms are:

• Challenges with eye contact or social interaction
• Delays in speech or language skills
• Not responding to their name
• Preferring to play alone
• Repetitive behaviors like rocking back and forth, hand-flapping, or lining up toys
• Strong interest in a limited range of topics or objects
• Difficulty moving from one task to another
• Becoming easily overwhelmed or agitated
• An inability to see other people’s perspectives
• Regression, where they stop using language or social skills that they have already learned

Signs of autism in babies

In babies, signs of autism may include:

• Limited smiling or facial expressions
• Limited or no eye contact
• Unusual or repetitive body movements
• Little interest in interactive activities like peek-a-boo
• Not turning their head to locate sounds
• Not imitating the actions of others

Autism diagnosis

The diagnosis of autism often starts with a regular checkup. Your child’s pediatrician will ask questions about how they act and express themselves. They will assess whether your child is meeting typical developmental milestones in movement, playing, and communication. If the doctor finds evidence of autism, they will most likely refer you to someone who specializes in diagnosing autism, like a developmental pediatrician, a pediatric neurologist, or a psychologist, depending on your child’s age and symptoms.

Children’s autism test

Although early diagnosis is important to allow children to begin therapy sooner, diagnosing autism spectrum disorder can be difficult. There’s no specific medical test that can be used, like a blood test, for example.  Doctors use developmental screenings and monitoring for diagnostic purposes. Standardized assessments, like the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), are often used to identify neurodivergence (the differences that occur in the brains of children with autism).

Autism spectrum levels

Autism disorder is considered a spectrum because of the wide range of traits and behaviors that make up the condition. No two autistic children have the exact same symptoms.

Types of autism

While each child and case of autism is unique, autism spectrum disorder is categorized by three levels that describe the type of support a child might need:

• Level 1 autism – requires support: Formerly known as high-functioning autism, this term refers to children who can manage their communication and social-interaction challenges with an appropriate level of support.
• Level 2 autism – requires substantial support: Is a term used to describe the state where communication and social challenges are more pronounced, such that the child needs consistent, customized support, yet may still show signs of challenges when functioning in their daily life and have limited verbal communication skills.
• Level 3 autism – requires very substantial support: Formerly known as low-functioning autism, this term refers to children who face the most significant challenges in behavioral flexibility and communication. They need help with basic self-care tasks like eating and hygiene, managing sensory overload, and may require medication and around-the-clock support.

Autism treatment for Children

Autism is not a disease, and there is no cure or standard treatment. However, several therapies can be used to help children with autism. The best treatment depends on the individual child and can include:

• Behavioral therapy where role play and other activities are introduced to aid in understanding a child’s behavior and helping them learn appropriate actions through positive reinforcement.
• Speech-language therapy helps children learn means of communication and may include speaking, sign language, high-tech audio machines, or cards that aid in speech generation.
• Occupational and physical therapy help them improve their performance of daily tasks like getting dressed and with motor skills like walking and balance.
• Social skills training to help in building relationships with peers, understanding nonverbal cues like body language and eye contact, engaging in conversations, and managing bullying.

These therapies can help your child make the most of their skills and talents to reach their full potential and gain as much independence as possible.

Support for families dealing with autism

Several resources are available to help parents deal with autism. Special classes can help you:

• Understand how to get your child’s attention
• Offer them choices
• Encourage social interactions with peers

Many parents benefit from local and national organizations that focus on autism. Each April, Autism Acceptance Month shines a light on acceptance and understanding, with many organizations hosting events and educational programs to support families. Additional resources include:

• Texas Children’s Hospital Autism Program
• The Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics and Autism
• Autism Information
• Moving from autism awareness to acceptance: Tips to promote acceptance and inclusion in everyday life

Autism is different for every child, but understanding what it is, how it’s diagnosed, and the kinds of support available can help them achieve their full potential.

Autism FAQs